Camera Critter #150

One of the sure signs of spring for me, is the return of the breeding males.  Normally, this begins in late March.  However, spring has sprung early this year in my world of birds.

I had originally grabbed my camera to get a photo of yet another new ‘yard bird’ for me…a Red-tailed Hawk.  However, as I lifted my camera, he got nervous and flew off.  But shortly after he departed the area, the little birds returned and I was able to capture several male Lesser Goldfinches and one male House Finch.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #149

Western Meadowhawks are a common dragonfly in my area.  I guess they like the hot, dryness of the high desert as much as I do.

However, when I shot this guy this past summer, I didn’t know the hitchhiker on the tail end.  Looks like mites will latch on to anything.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #148

Last week, I presented a new yard bird for me as my entry.  This week, I’m doing it again.

Towards evening last Monday, I stepped outside with Lacy.  As always, I glance around to see what’s going on.  Up on the telephone pole just behind the house, I noticed a bird, dining on something.

I went inside, got my camera and began shooting.  I thought at first the bird was a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  Later when I put the image on the computer, I couldn’t decide whether it was a Prairie Falcon, or a Peregrine Falcon.

Unable to decide, I sent the image to a friend of mine who always helps me with bird photos.

It may be a messy photo, but at least I know what it is now.  8v)

The bird, which was dining on a field mouse, I found out, is, abracadabra…a Merlin.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #147

It’s always nice to see a new bird in my yard…and my Camera Critter for this week, is just that…a new yard bird.

It’s not that Downy Woodpeckers are rare here, it is just they normally don’t stop in my yard and give me time to photograph them.

But this guy did  8v)

Aren’t you glad he did?

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critter #145

Yes…I did post an image of this species, maybe even the same bird, two weeks ago.  But this is such a beautiful image, I just had to pass it on for y’all to see.

Once again…the Varied Thrush.

Oh…and if I get an even better shot of this beautiful bird in the coming week, you’ll see it again.  8v)

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #144

Several years ago, while walking through a nearby park, I noticed something moving around in a tree.

As I got closer, I realized the movement was being caused by a Yellow Warbler.  Having seen very few and never having got a good photo of one, I moved around the tree with the bird, capturing one image after another, hoping at least one would come out looking nice.

Well, I succeeded.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critter #143

As we go into a new year, I would like to wish everyone a wonderful, prosperous year ahead.

In this part of the world, the new year is generally cold…and as I type this, it is 18 degrees.  But that doesn’t stop the birds from visiting the back yard.

Several years ago, I saw my first Varied Thrush in the Apple Tree out back.  He was a quick visitor and I didn’t see another one here until a week or so ago.  It appears this thrush is going to stick around, and hopefully give me better opportunities to capture his beauty.

I got this shot early New Year’s Eve morning.  It was taken through my kitchen window.  The window was dirty and the screen is still up.  But I believe you can still the beauty of the Varied Thrush.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.